Earlier today we shared with you the draft language for the Democratic National Committee’s same-sex marriage plank. Now, we have the language for the Democratic National Committee’s workplace nondiscrimination plank:
We know that putting America back to work is job one, and we are committed to ensuring Americans do not face employment discrimination. We support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act because people should not be fired based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
President Obama and the Democratic Party are committed to ensuring all Americans are treated fairly. This administration hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention and we must continue our work to prevent vicious bullying of young people and support LGBT youth. The President’s record, from ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†in full cooperation with our military leadership, to passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to ensuring same-sex couples can visit each other in the hospital, reflects Democrats’ belief that all Americans deserve the same chance to pursue happiness, earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.
This too will need to be voted upon by committee before being presented to convention delegates next month.
Buzzfeed, who again broke this story, writes:
In 2008, the platform’s language did not include support for marriage equality and was more vague about the specifics of workplace protections:
We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation, and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections. We will enact a comprehensive bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all attempts to use this issue to divide us.
A “comprehensive” workplace bill has been understood by advocates to reference a bill that includes protections for both sexual orientation- and gender identity-based discrimination, but this year’s draft platform language makes that understanding specific.